Chapter 8 - The Night Matteo Almost Lost Everything
The bullet had grazed Matteo's shoulder.
He insisted he was fine.
Evelyn knew better.
She dragged him into a private room and ripped open his shirt.
The wound was not life-threatening.
But she saw something else.
A scar.
Long.
Ugly.
Old.
"How did you get this?"
"Different life."
"You were a child."
He looked at her.
"I survived."
She cleaned the wound.
His eyes remained on her.
"You are angry."
"Yes."
"At me?"
"At everyone."
She tied the bandage.
"My family lied."
"So did mine."
"Your father was involved."
"I know."
"Did he love your mother?"
"Yes."
"And Gabriel?"
Matteo was silent.
She understood.
The truth was worse than she imagined.
Later that night, they found the hidden recordings.
Matteo's father had been an undercover informant.
He had infiltrated Gabriel's organization to expose the corruption.
But he had been forced to work with them.
Your mother found out.
She tried to expose all of them.
Richard betrayed her.
Gabriel ordered her death.
Matteo's father failed to stop it.
Evelyn cried when she heard the recording.
Her father sat beside her.
"Your mother wanted you to have a normal life."
"I did."
"You did."
"Not anymore."
He smiled sadly.
"Maybe better."
Then the safe house was attacked.
Windows shattered.
Guards fell.
Matteo grabbed Evelyn.
"Basement."
"No."
"Evelyn."
"No more hiding."
She grabbed the garment bag.
Matteo stared.
"What are you doing?"
"Remember the dress?"
He understood.
She opened the black dress.
Inside the seams were tiny tracking devices.
She had sewn them in.
Matteo smiled.
"You're dangerous."
"I'm learning."
They used the trackers to follow the attackers.
The signal led to an old textile warehouse.
Evelyn understood immediately.
"This place belonged to Arthur."
Matteo looked at her.
"You're sure?"
"I know the layout."
Inside, they found hundreds of old garments.
And a hidden room.
On the wall were photographs.
Names.
Dates.
Every crime connected to Gabriel.
At the center was a photograph of Evelyn.
Taken at the gala.
Someone had been watching her for months.
Then Gabriel appeared on a monitor.
"Congratulations."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Where are you?"
"Close."
"What do you want?"
"The last page."
"You'll never get it."
Gabriel smiled.
"Not from you."
He pressed a button.
A second screen appeared.
Evelyn's father.
Bound to a chair.
Her blood turned cold.
"Dad!"
Matteo grabbed her.
Gabriel spoke.
"Bring me the ledger."
"Where?"
"The old Bell Tailoring shop."
"You said close."
"I never said fair."
The screen went black.
Evelyn turned to Matteo.
"We're going."
"Of course."
"No."
He looked at her.
"I'm not going because you told me to."
She took his hand.
"I'm going because he's my father."
May you like
Matteo nodded.
"Then we go together."
